Dear Members of the Menlo Park City Council, Tuesday January 28, 2025 Public Meeting @ 6:00PM
Thank you for giving the citizens this opportunity to express their opinions on the use of Downtown Parking Lots for Housing.
As a Commercial Real Estate Attorney and former member of the Menlo Park Finance and Audit Committee, please consider my opinion:
Do not go forward with the parking lot housing plan for the following reasons:
1) The California State Mandates and threatened Penalties are UNREASONABLE and OVERREACHING.
2) Resident Public opinion is opposed to the Parking Lot Plan (approximately 10 to 1 )
3) Business Owners and Commercial Property Owners are opposed (see list of 116 names submitted to you)
4) DO NOT RUSH. If you need time to consider other locations, or reconsider data, you should Formally Petition the state for additional time: To find a more suitable alternative.
5) If the State of California denies the extension of time, They are being unreasonable and the City of Menlo Park can do the following:
A) Sue the State of California asking a court to determine if an extension of time is "Reasonable".
B) During the pending litigation, ASK that all penalties and state actions are waived (postponed).
C) During the pending litigation, alternative locations can be explored, and selected.
D) It is also possible that a judge (or appellate tribunal) may agree that the state must reverse its housing mandates and return the task of meeting housing demands to LOCAL CONTROL.
This is what I would recommend: IF I was still on the FInance and Audit Committee and IF I was representing the city of Menlo Park as their attorney.
Respectfully Submitted
Michael C. DeMoss
Menlo Park resident
